Interchanging Turf Assembly

ABSTRACT

An interchanging turf assembly for connecting interlocking artificial turf tiles together wherein each tile has a varying layout includes a plurality of tiles. Each tile of the plurality of tiles is interlocking with each other. Each tile of the plurality of tiles has a plurality of sides. Each side of the plurality of sides has a channel wherein the each channel defines a slot space. A connector has a base and the base has a pair of sides. Each side of the pair of sides is coupled to a respective one of a pair of slot inputs. Each of the slot inputs is inserted into the slot space of each channel. A plug is positioned in the center of each of the tiles. The plug is a hole where the hole defines a space for a golf ball to be stored in.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to modular turf systems and more particularly pertains to a new modular turf system for connecting interlocking artificial turf tiles together wherein each tile has a customizable overall surface for applications such as mini golf.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to turf systems. The prior art includes a variety of turf systems having interlocking panels that combine to create a mini golf course. Known prior art lacks a system comprising of interchanging tiles having varying layouts wherein the interchanging tiles are connected together by channel locking fastening.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of tiles. Each tile of the plurality of tiles is interlocking with each other. Each tile of the plurality of tiles has a plurality of sides. Each side of the plurality of sides has a channel wherein the each channel defines a slot space. A connector has a base and the base has a pair of sides. Each side of the pair of sides is coupled to a respective one of a pair of slot inputs. Each of the slot inputs is configured for being inserted into the slot space of each channel. A plug is positioned in the center of each of the tiles. The plug is a hole where the hole defines a space for a golf ball to be stored in.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an interchanging turf assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of alternate tiles with cup holes and plugs of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of sample specialty tiles of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of sample connectors of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new modular turf system embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10 , the interchanging turf assembly 10 generally comprises a plurality of tiles 12. Each of the tiles 12 has a square shape 13 and each of the tiles 12 has a top layer 14. The top layer 14 is an artificial turf material 16. The top layer 14 is customizable to have a variety of configurations 18 such as hills, ramps, bumps, and flat.

Each of the tiles 12 has a plurality of sides 20. Each of the sides 20 has a channel 22. The channel 22 defines a space for a slot 24. The slot 24 has a rectangular shape 21 and extends for the entire length of each of the sides 20. The purpose of each of the tiles 12 is for connecting to each other and creating the interchanging turf assembly 10.

Each connector 26 of a plurality of connectors 26 has a base 28 being elongated. The base has a pair of sides 30. Each side 30 of the pair of sides 30 is coupled to a respective one of a slot input 32 of a pair of slot inputs 32. Each of the slot inputs 32 is complementary with the slot 24.

Furthermore, each of the slot inputs 32 has the rectangular shape 21 and extends for the entire length of each of the sides 30. The purpose of each of the slot inputs 32 is to be inserted into the channel 22 of each of the sides 20. Each of the slot inputs 32 is coupled to each side 30 of the pair of sides 30 for the entire length of the base 28. Each of the connectors 26 helps attach each of the tiles 12 to each other.

Shown in FIG. 9 , a bumper 34 has a base 36 with a rectangular shape. The base 36 has a top surface 38. The top surface 38 protrudes upward from the base 36 and defines a wall 40. The bumper 34 is configured for dividing each of the tiles 12 by the wall 40 whereby a golf ball 15 will rebound off the wall 40 of the bumper 34. The bumper 34 creates a threshold between each of the tiles 12 with the environment 19.

A corner bumper 42 has a triangular shaped base 44 with a peripheral edge 46. The peripheral edge 46 can have a concave bend 48. The corner bumper 42 has a pair of edges 50. Each of the edges 50 is positioned perpendicular to each other. The corner bumper 42 has a bottom surface 52. A pair of slot inputs 32 is coupled to the bottom surface 52. Each of the slot inputs 32 are positioned perpendicular to each other. Each of the slot inputs 32 are positioned adjacent to a respective one of each of the edges 50.

As seen in FIG. 9 , each of the slot inputs 32 of the corner bumper 42 help attach the corner bumper 42 to a connector 26 the interchanging turf assembly 10. The purpose of the corner bumper 42 is to provide a hindrance to the golf ball 15.

Each of the tiles 12 has a plug 54. The plug 54 is a lid that encloses a hole 56. The hole 56 defines a space where a golf ball 15 can be stored in when the user 17 is golfing. The hole 56 is positioned in a center 55 of each of the tiles 12. The plug 54 can be removed from the top layer 14 of each of the tiles 12 to expose the hole 56 to the user 17 as shown in FIG. 6 . The top surface 58 of the plug 54 is the artificial turf material 16. The function of the hole 56 is to entrap the golf ball 15 and indicate the end of the course.

In use, the user 17 can connect each of the tiles 12 together by using the plurality of connectors 26. Each of the connectors 26 combines each of the tiles 12 together by engaging with each of the slot inputs 32 with the slots 24 as shown in FIG. 3 . The bumper 34 or the corner bumper 42 can be combined to each of the tiles 12 to act as a partition between each of the tiles 12 or between each of the tiles 12 with the environment 19. Shown in FIG. 10 , the user 17 can remove the plug 54 of each of the tiles 12 for the golf ball 15 to be putted into. The tiles 12 can be provided with varying heights for the turf to simulate rough or longer grass on a putting course which may be used to form a perimeter boundary or edge around shorter turf. It is also contemplated the interchanging turf assembly 10 can be integrated into an existing lawn.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. An interchanging turf assembly comprising: a plurality of tiles, each tile of said plurality of tiles having a plurality of sides, each side of said plurality of sides having a channel, each of said channels defines a space for a slot; a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors having a base, said base having a pair of sides, each side of said pair of sides being coupled to a respective one of a pair of slot inputs, each of said slot inputs being complementary with said slot, each of the slot inputs being configured for inserting into said slot of each of said channels; and a plug, said plug being a lid, said lid enclosing a hole, said hole defining a space wherein a golf ball can be stored in.
 2. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further comprising each tile of said plurality of tiles having a square shape.
 3. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further comprising each tile of said plurality of tiles having a top layer, said top layer being an artificial turf material, said top layer having a variety of configurations such as bumps and hills and valleys and ramps and flat.
 4. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further comprising said slot having a rectangular shape, said slot extending for a entire length of each of said sides.
 5. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further each of said slot inputs having said rectangular shape, each of said slot inputs extending for a entire length of each of said sides of each of said connectors.
 6. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bumper, said bumper having said base, said base having a top surface, said top surface protruding upward from said base for a length, said length defining a wall.
 7. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 6, further comprising said bumper configured for blocking a golf ball from rolling off each of said tiles, said bumper having a pair of sides, each of said slot inputs being coupled to a respective one of each of said sides of said bumper.
 8. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further comprising a corner bumper, said corner bumper having a base, said base having a triangular shape, said base having a pair of edges, each of said edges being positioned perpendicular to each other, said base having a peripheral edge, said peripheral edge can have a concave bend.
 9. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 8, further comprising said base having a bottom surface, said pair of slot inputs couples to said bottom surface, each of said slot inputs being positioned perpendicular to each other, each of said slot inputs being positioned adjacent to a respective one of each of said edges of said corner bumper.
 10. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further comprising said plug being positioned in a center of said top surface of each tile of said plurality of tiles.
 11. The interchanging turf assembly of claim 1, further comprising said plug being configured for being removed to expose said hole to the user.
 12. An interchanging turf assembly comprising: a plurality of tiles, each tile of said plurality of tiles having a square shape, each tile of said plurality of tiles having a top layer, said top layer being an artificial turf material, said top layer having a variety of configurations such as bumps and hills and valleys and ramps and flat, each tile of said plurality of tiles having a plurality of sides, each side of said plurality of sides having a channel, each of said channels defines a space for a slot, said slot having a rectangular shape, said slot extending for a entire length of each of said sides; a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors having a base, said base having a pair of sides, each side of said pair of sides being coupled to a respective one of a pair of slot inputs, each of said slot inputs being complementary with said slot, each of said slot inputs having said rectangular shape, each of said slot inputs extending for a entire length of each of said sides of each of said connectors, each of the slot inputs being configured for inserting into said slot of each of said channels; a bumper, said bumper having said base, said base having a top surface, said top surface protruding upward from said base for a length, said length defining a wall, said bumper configured for blocking a golf ball from rolling off each of said tiles, said bumper having a pair of sides, each of said slot inputs being coupled to a respective one of each of said sides of said bumper; a corner bumper, said corner bumper having a base, said base having a triangular shape, said base having a pair of edges, each of said edges being positioned perpendicular to each other, said base having a peripheral edge, said peripheral edge can have a concave bend, said base having a bottom surface, said pair of slot inputs couples to said bottom surface, each of said slot inputs being positioned perpendicular to each other, each of said slot inputs being positioned adjacent to a respective one of each of said edges of said corner bumper; and a plug, said plug being a lid, said lid enclosing a hole, said plug being positioned in a center of said top surface of each tile of said plurality of tiles, said hole defining a space wherein a golf ball can be stored in, said plug being configured for being removed to expose said hole to the user. 